No need for Punjab to participate in SYL meeting: Sukhbir Badal

Ferozepur, August 16, 2019: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today said there was no need for the Congress government to participate in any meeting on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal even as he warned the government not to succumb to any pressure and bargain away the river waters of Punjab.

Addressing public meetings in the city and cantonment area, the SAD president said the Congress government should not have sent officials to participate in any meeting whose sole aim was to discuss “completion” of the SYL canal. “The SAD stand is clear. Punjab does not have one drop to water to spare. In light to this no purpose will be served in participating in a joint meeting on this issue with Haryana and central government officials”.

Sukhbir said he hoped CM Capt Amarinder Singh had instructed State government officials to equivocally state that the Punjab government will not allow the SYL canal to be constructed on its land. “Anything less will open a pandora’s box and will have unimagined consequences for the farmers and people of the State”, he added.

Replying to a question, the SAD president said the SAD was the oldest ally of the BJP and that the alliance had stood the test of time. “We will contest the next assembly elections in alliance with the BJP and there should not be any doubt on this score”, he added.

The SAD President also announced that he would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give a special package to the border areas in Punjab. He said the border areas were still undeveloped and that a special package would result in the advent of industry and consequent jobs in the area. He said he would continue his bit to get medical institutions in the area and said that he had met the Union health minister recently and urged him to inaugurate the PGI satellite centre in Ferozepur. “This will bring in much needed advanced health care to the district”, he added.

When questioned on rampant illegal mining being done in the area, said the charges had been admitted by former PCC President Partap Singh Bajwa who had himself given facts in this regard. He also condemned the Congress government for presiding over a drastic increase in drug trafficking and said drug smugglers had become so bold that they had started doing home delivery of drugs. “This is because these smugglers are receiving political patronage from Congress leaders”, he added.

Others present on the occasion included former Cabinet Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Political Secretary Charanjit Singh Brar and Rohit Kumar (Montu Vohra).